Cleaning lady stole RMB 3 million worth of fine wines in Guangzhou

A businessman in China’s Guangzhou city has been bilked out of RMB 3 million worth of fine wines including Bordeaux first growths by his former cleaning lady, according to police in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province in southern China.

Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Latour were among the wines stole by the cleaning lady from her employer (Photo source: Guangzhou Daily)

The cleaning lady, surnamed Li, is accused of stealing over 80 bottles worth over RMB 3 million (US$435,600) including Bordeaux first growths Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Latour from her employer, a Guangzhou-based businessman surnamed Zheng, according to Chinese media reports.

The theft was uncovered when Zheng was planning to transport a large amount of wine in his office to another location, and realised more than 80 bottles were missing.

An avid wine drinker, Zheng has collected several hundred bottles of fine wines, but hasn’t checked his wine cellars in the office for two years because of “gruelling” travel schedules.

Li took advantage of Zheng’s absence and started to steal one or two bottles at a time when she found that Zheng did not lock his wine cellar.

From last September to this March, Li successfully stole over 80 bottles. The wines were then be resold by Li’s son to a buyer in Shenzhen for RMB 110,000 (US$16,000).